Mr Buerckner said the ram, which was still only a lamb, would probably now be set for this year’s Royal Melbourne Show.

Judge Harold Manton said he was impressed by the entries.

“I was particularly impressed with the young ram. He is a very correct sheep and worth the award,” Mr Manton said. He said the line-up was a good sign for the future of Border Leicesters.

“The wool job is bouyant, and picking up all the time; it’s all good for the Border job and the first cross ewe job,” he said. “That’s what the Borders are all about, to produce that magnificent mother, in the Border-Merino first cross ewe.”